Combination leveler-bender



Dec. 24, 1968 A. H. HUGHES 3,

COMBINATION LEVELER-BENDER Filed Oct. 8. 1965 ZSheets-Sheet 1 l2 I8 2524 23 I9 2. 2O 22 ATTORNEY 1968 A. H. HUGHES 3,417,586

COMBINATION LEVELER'BENDER Filed Oct. 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AUBREY H.HUGHES FIG. 7 INVENTOR WNQM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,417,586COMBINATION LEVELER-BENDER Aubrey H. Hughes, 903 Weizmann, San Antonio,Tex. 78213 Filed Oct. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 494,138 11 Claims. (Cl. 72-32)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for suspending and levelingceilings and the like including a liquid leveling device in combinationwith a wire bender, said leveling device comprising a liqud containerwith one end of a hose communicating therewith; the remote, closed endof said hose detachably connects to said wire bender whereby the usermay work to a predetermined reference prior to activating said wirebender.

The present invention relates to a leveling device in combination with awire bender and more particularly to such a combination leveler-benderfor use in connection with the construction of suspended ceilings andthe like.

At the present time, acoustic and lath and plaster ceilings are oftensuspended by means of a plurality of wires secured to the trusses orroof of a structure. The workman often encounters many difiiculties insuch type construction in that suspended ceilings not only must be levelbut also rnust be suspended to a predetermined height and the wiresconnecting thereto must provide adequate support for such suspendedceiling.

The present invention relates to a leveling device in combination with awire bender whereby a workman may level such a suspended ceiling with aminimum of effort, work to a predetermined grade, and also properlysecure such ceiling to the supporting structure.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a light weightleveling device which enables a workman to work to a predetermined gradeor level line without many time consuming computations and measurements.

Another object is to provide such a leveling device in combination witha wire bender whereby each wire is bent uniformly and each bend is madeat an exact, predetermined point.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combinationleveler-bender which enables a workman to level a workpiece andthereafter secure such workpiece in a suspended state with a minimum ofeffort.

Still another object is to provide such a combination leveler-benderwhich is inexpensive to manufacture, capable of mass productiontechniques, easy to use, and universal in its applicability.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art as the disclosure is made in the followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention asillustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly insection, of the leveling device of the subject invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly insection, of the wire bender used'in combination with the leveling deviceof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, side elevational view, partly broken away andpartly in section, of the lower portion of the container utilized in theembodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view through the floatutilized in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view, partly broken away and partly insection, of the upper portion of the wire bender.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the wire bender of FIG. 5 wherein awire, illustrated in reference lines, is bent by such device.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly insection, of the holding device utilized in the embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view showing the opposite side of theholding device, partly broken away, and attached to the wire bender.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,there is shown in FIG. 1 a leveling device 10 which in the preferredembodiment of the invention is used in combination with the wire bender11 of FIG. 2. It is understood that leveling device 10 may be usedindependently of the wire bender 11 for general leveling purposes, and amodification of the wire bender, illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of thedrawings, may be used independently of the leveling device 10.

Leveling device 10 consists of a container 12 for water or other liquid,which container is composed of transparent material such as glass orclear plastic; a widemouthed jar including a screw thread on the upperportion thereof, such as a two quart mason jar, not only providesadequate capacity for the liquid required but also may easily bereplaced in case of breakage of said con tainer. In use, the container12 is held in inverted position by means of a frame 13 or hanger 14,hereinafter to be described, whereby the said container may bedetachably secured to a supporting structure 15.

Frame 13 consists of two identical, shaped members 16-17 of galvanizedstrap or the like, which members are positioned outwardly of thecontainer and secured at their respective lower ends to a split ring 18.As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, each end of split ring 18 includes aperpendicularly outward extending eye 19-20; a bolt 21, carrying awasher 22, is passed through eye 20; a washer 23 is placed on such boltoutwardly of eye 19 and a nut 24 threaded on said bolt to draw the saidring firmly against the neck of the container. Prior to tightening ring18 in such manner, container 12 is positioned in the frame 13,hereinafter to be described.

For purposes of convenience only, one half of member 16 will bedescribed in detail, it is understood that the other half of such member16 is a mirror image thereto and the member 17 is constructed in likemanner. The lower terminal portion of each member 16-17, identified by25, is passed in either direction around ring 18 or otherwise securedthereto; said member extends angularly outward and downward, indicatedby 26, thence is turned vertically upward, indicated by 27, to passoutwardly of the container 12. Portion 27 extends to a point above thebottom of the container 12, after which the member is turned angularlydownward and inward, indicated by 28, and thence bent horizontally,indicated by 29, along the bottom of the container. The horizontalportions of members 16, 17 are crossed and hanger 14, heretofore:mentioned, is secured thereto. A pear-shaped aperture 30 is provided inportion 27 of each member 16, 17 above the bottom of container 12 toaccommodate the head of nail 31 or the like inserted into the supportingstructure 15.

Hanger 14, composed of galvanized rod or the like, as best seen in FIG.1 of the drawings, consists of base 32 and converging legs 33-34integrally formed therewith. The horizontal portion 35 of member 17,corresponding to portion 29 of member 16, is passed over base 32 of thehanger and a rivet 36 or the like is passed through the crossed members16, 17 on each side of base 32 and expanded. Such hanger may be used forcarrying the leveling device 10 or securing the same from any horizontalsupport.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, container 12 includes a screwthread 37 adapted to receive a flangedscrew ring 38 and cover 39positioned therein. More particularly, cover 39 includes a depression 40in the upper surface around the periphery thereof which accommodates agasket 41 or the like. Such gasket bears against the annular rim ofcontainer 12 when the cover is properly positioned in such flanged ring38 to form a leak-proof seal.

Cover 39 includes a bore 42 inwardly of the depression 40 in which boreis secured a vertical tube 43 as by soldering or the like. The lower endof tube 43 extends slightly below the lower surface of the cover and afillet, indicated by 44, provided in the angle thus formed. One end of aflexible hose 45 is placed on the upstanding portion of tube 43 in a'friction fit while the other end of said hose 45 is attached to a float46.

There is shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings the light weight float 46,composed of expanded polystyrene or the like, which float includes acentral, vertical bore 47. A tube passes through said bore, the upperend of said tube 48 terminates at the upper surface of the float whilethe lower end of said tube extends downwardly of the lower surface ofsaid float and the other end of hose 45 fits thereon in a friction fit.An annular cap 49, including a downturned peripheral edge 50, iscentered and secured to the top of said float by means of a plurality ofdownwardly depending tines 51 integral with edge 50; a slight gap ismaintained between the lower rim of edge 50 and the top of the float inorder that air may enter into the container. If required, an annularweight 52 (see FIG. 1) may be crimped or otherwise secured to hose 45slightly below the float and aids in maintaining the float upright. Itis evident that cap 49, in combination with weight 52, prevents waterfrom entering into the :air vent thus formed.

Referring again to FIG. 3 of the drawings, bore 53 is provided in cover39 inwardly of depression 40; vertical tube 54 is secured therein in aconventional manner with the upper end extending slightly above theupper surface of cover 39 and a fillet, indicated by 55, provided in theangle thus formed. The lower end of tube 54 extends downwardly of thelower surface of cover 39 and a flexible hose 56, preferably of clearplastic, fits thereon in tight fitting relationship. One end of a coilspring 57 is forced over such connection until stopped by the lowersurface of cover 39, which spring 57 aids in preventing crimping ordamage to hose 56 in proximity to such connection. As best seen in FIG.2, the other end of hose 56 is provided with a stopper 58, such as iswell known in the art, whereby air may be bled from hose 56.

There is shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings the wire bender 11 and itsassociated apparatus which is used in combination with the levelingdevice 10 of FIG. 1; however, for purposes of convenience, the basicstructure of the wire bender, illustrated in FIGS. and 6, will first bedescribed. It is obvious that such wire bender, hereinafter to beidentified by reference numeral 59, may be used independently of theleveling device for general wire bending operations.

Wire bender 59 consists, in general, of handles 60-61, front plate 62intermediate plate 63, rear plate 64, link 65, and arm 66, respectively.As best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings, handle 61 is preferably shapedto con form to the hand of the user, such handle is generally invertedU-shape in section. The upper, downwardly depending sides 67 of handle61 pass laterally of the flat, vertically aligned and longitudinallyextending intermediate plate 63 and the foremost ends of such sidespreferably abut the rearmost, vertically extending ends of plates 62, 64as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Bolt 68 or other conventional securing meansis passed through aligned bores (not shown) in the sides 67 andintermediate plate 63 and a nut 69 is threaded thereon.

Handle 60 is inverted, 'U-shape in section and as illustrated in FIG. 5,such handle includes a slot 70 adjacent the upper end thereof; sides 71of handle 60 extend laterally of the sides 67 of handle 61 and pivotallyconnect thereto as by means of bolt 72 passing through an aligned bore(not shown) in sides 71, 67 and the intermediate plate 63 with a nut 73threaded onto said bolt 72.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, front plate 62 is rectangular in elevation,the minor axis of which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of thedevice. Plate 62 includes a transversely extending flange 74 (see FIGS.5 and 6) which terminates at the outer surface of rear plate 64. Spaced,vertically aligned slots 75 in the top and bottom surfaces of plate 62accommodate the holder 76 of FIG. 7.

Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the rear plate 64terminates forwardly in a transversely extending, vertically alignedflange 77; the foremost end of intermediate plate 63 abuts the innersurface of flange 77, while the end of such flange 77 abuts the innersurface of front plate 62. A vertically extending channel, indicatedgenerally by 78, is provided between the rearmost surface of flange 74and the foremost surface of flange 77, respectively, and accommodates awire 79 which is to be bent at a desired, predetermined point. Spaced,machine screws 80-81 hold the plates 62-64 in such arrangement.

Arm 66 is pivotally connected to the lower, medial part of rear plate 64as by a bolt 82 or the like with a nut 83 threaded thereon; one end oflink 65 connects to the sides 71 of handle 60 by means of bolt 84 andnut 85 threaded thereon (see FIG. 2), while the other end of such linkconnects to the upper, outer side of arm 66 by means of a machine screw86 with an annular spacer 87 (see FIG. 8) placed on said screw betweenlink 65 and arm 66, respectively. A spring 88 passes through slot 70,one end of said spring connects to bolt 84 while the other end of saidspring connects to machine screw 89 which passes through plates 64 and62; spring '88 maintains the handles 60, 61 separated preparatory to abending operation.

A perpendicularly outward extending tab 90 is integral with the lowerend of plate 64 and serves as a stop for arm 66 when such arm isessentially vertical, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Referring to FIGS. 2 and8 of the drawings, arm 66 further includes an integrally formed,transversely extending base 91 and terminal portion 92 perpendicularthereto which portion 92 passes outwardly of the front plate 62. AV-shaped recess 93 is provided in the upper end of base 91 and aninverted Vshaped recess 94 in the lower end of flange 74, which recessesaid in positioning wire 79 and bending the same.

There is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 the holder 76 which is detachablyconnected to the wire bender 59 of FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings. Moreparticularly, such holder is formed of channel or the like and includesintegrally formed male connectors 95 which insert into the slots 75 inplate 62. An L-shaped locking device 96 pivotally connects to a crosspiece 97 (see FIG. 7) by means of bolt '98 and nut 99 threaded thereon,said locking device may be rotated to pass behind the upper, rearsurface of the front plate 62 thereby detachably securing such holder tothe wire bender. A tape 100 or other measuring device is secured to theweb of such channel as by rivets 101 or the like. Additionally,'U-sha-ped fastening means 102 are fixedly secured in proximity to theupper and lower ends of holder 76 in which hose 56 is detachably securedto the wire bender, as best seen in FIG. 2.

Prior to use, hose 56 is completely filled with liquid from container 12and all air bled therefrom by first removing stopper 58 from the end ofsaid hose and then elevating leveling device 10 above said hose.Leveling device 10 is then secured to the supporting structure 15 bymeans of nail 31 passing through aperture so that the water level incontainer 12 is at the desired grade. It is obvious that when thestopper 58 is removed from the hose, the water or other liquid in saidhose seeks the level of the liquid in container 12 and the meniscus ofsuch liquid in hose 56 indicates the desired grade; wire bender 11 israised or lowered until the proper point for bending wire 79, asindicated on tape 100, is located. A compressive force applied tohandles 60, 61 of the wire bender causes arm 66 to pivot upwardly andthe free end of wire 79, positioned in channel 78 and secured and guidedby recesses 93, 94 is bent upwardly about the lower end of flange '74and assumes a U-shape, as viewed from the side (see FIG. 6). Stopper 58is replaced after each such bending operation to prevent accidental lossof water or other liquid in the event that wire bender 11 is belowcontainer 12. When hose 56 is not in use, the said hose may be coiledand placed over portion 28 of frame 13.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosurerelates to only preferred embodiments of the invention and that numerousmodifications or alterations may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a leveling device and a wire bender, said levelingdevice consisting of a container and a frame, holding means on said wirebender, and a hose connected to said container and said holding means.

2. In combination, a liquid leveling device and a wire bender, saidleveling device consisting of a container and a frame, said framepassing outwardly of said container, holding means on said wire bender,and a transparent hose connected to said container and said holdingmeans.

3. In combination, a leveling device and a wire bender, said levelingdevice consisting of a transparent container and a frame, said framepassing outwardly of said container and supporting said container,venting means in said container, holding means detachably connected tosaid wire bender, an elongate transparent hose connected to saidcontainer and detachably connected to said holding means.

4. In combination, a leveling device and a wire bender, said levelingdevice consisting of a container and a frame, said frame passingoutwardly of said container and securing said container, means tosupport said frame in elevated condition, venting means communicatingwith said container, holding means on said wire bender, and atransparent hose connected to said container and detachably connected tosaid holding means on said wire bender.

5. A liquid leveling device comprising a transparent container includinga screw thread, a flanged ring screwed onto said thread, a coversupported by said flanged ring,

first and second tubes passing through said cover, one end of a hoseconnected to the end of said first tube extending into said container,the other end of said hose connected to a float, an elcngate transparenthose connected to the end of said second tube extending outwardly ofsaid container, means to restrict the flow of liquid in said transparenthose, and a frame passing outwardly of said container and supportingsaid container.

6. The invention of claim 5 including means secured to said float toprevent liquid from entering into said hose.

7. The invention of claim 5 including means secured to said hose tomaintain said float in vertical alignment.

8. A wire bender consisting of an intermediate plate, a front plate anda rear plate, said plates connected together, said front plate having aflange extending transversely rearward, said rear plate having a flangeextending transversely forward, a channel between said flanges, a firsthandle secured to said intermediate plate, a second handle pivotallysecured to said first handle, an arm pivotally connected to said rearplate, and a link connected to said arm and said second handle.

9. The invention of claim 8 including holding means on said front plate.

10. The invention of claim 8 including holding means detachably securedto said front plate.

11. In combination, a leveling device and a wire bender, said levelingdevice consisting of a transparent container including a screw thread,.a flanged ring screwed onto said thread, a cover supported by saidflanged ring, first and second tubes passing through said cover, one endof a hose connected to the end of said first tube extending into saidcontainer, the other end of said hose connected to a float, one end ofan elongate transparent hose connected to the end of said first tubeextending into said container, means restricting the flow of liquid insaid transparent hose, a frame passing outwardly of said container andsecuring the same, said wire bender consisting of :an intermediateplate, a front plate and a rear plate, said plates connected together,said front plate having a transversely rearward extending flange, saidrear plate having a transversely forward extending flange, :a channelbetween said flanges, a first handle secured to said intermediate plate,a second handle pivotally secured to said first handle, an arm pivotallyconnected to said rear plate, and a link connected to said arm and saidsecond handle, holding means detachably connected to said front plate,the other end of said transparent hose detachably connected to saidholding means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,556,725 6/1951 Hurlbut 72-4092,572,738 10/1951 Lovinggood 72-409 2,664,645 1/ 1954 Qualman 33-2093,126,772 3/ 1964 Haucke 72409 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

RONALD D. GREFE, Assistant Examiner.

